Purchase-change device



Dec. 17, 1963 J. DlAZ PURCHASE-CHANGE DEVICE FIG, 1

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 30, 1959 INVENTOR. Juan D145 Fra -4 fez A EGZ Z M g 8 MMWM flilornays Dec. 17, 1963 J. DIAZ 3,114,446

PURCHASE-CHANGE DEVICE Filed April :50, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 11 M T r EGO6 Fig.7 FIG.5 1 16.9

IN V EN TOR. Jim 21 D2215 BY ,fllzorncys' Dec. 17, 1963 J, DIAZ PURCHASE-CHANGE DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 30, 1959 FIG 12 INVENTOR. JZZCUZ D1225 Q,m,%9 tz/mflw MM 7 flizorneys Dec. 17, 1963 J. DIAZ 3,114,446

PURCHASE-CHANGE DEVICE Filed April 30, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INKENTOR. Juan Dza United States Patent 3,114,446 PURCHASE-CHAN GE DEVICE Juan Diaz, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Reed Electromech Corporation, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 30, B59, Ser. No. 810,066 11 Claims. (Cl. 194-9) This invention relates to a change making device which can be used with any number of vending machines selling their products at multiple prices.

Change making mechanisms associated with vending machines have been on the market for a number of years, but up until the present they have been designed for operation at a specific price. For example, if the price of the merchandise was cents, a quarter could be inserted in the vending machine and four nickels and the merchandise would be delivered to the customer. Alternatively, if a dime were inserted, one nickel would be returned.

An important objection to these prior change making devices was that they were inflexible and could not return change for a plurality of vending machines selling their products at multiple prices. As a result the prior vending machines which sold their products at different prices generally required a separate coin accepting mechanism and a separate change making device. If a common coin accepting and change making mechanism were used with a group of vending machines, the machines had to sell their products for the same price.

It is apparent that a change making mechanism which could be connected to a large number of vending machines selling their products at different prices would be very desirable because it would permit the cost of the vending machines to be reduced since separate coin accepting mechanisms and change making devices would not be required for each vending machine.

Among other things, therefore, one of the important objects of this invention is to provide a change making mechanism which can be connected to any number of vending machines and which will give the correct amount of change for products selling at different prices.

This and other objects of this invention will become more apparent when read in the light of the accompanying drawings and specification wherein- FIG. 1 shows the change making mechanism connected with several vending machines;

FIG. 2 shows an elevational view of the nickel payout mechanism with the cover plate removed;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the nickel pay-out mecha nism;

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the totalizer computer; FIG. 6 is a view taken on the line 66 of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a view taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is a view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8; 7

FIG. 10 is a view taken on the line 10-40 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a view taken on the line 1111 of FIG. 5;

Fl'G. 12 is a view taken on the line 1212 of FIG. 5; FIG. 13 is a view taken on the line 1313 of FIG. 5, and

FIG. 14 is a circuit diagram of the control circuit of the change making mechanism.

Referring now to FIG. 1 ofthe drawings, a change making mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 1! is connected to a bank of vending machines 12 and comprises a coin accepting mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 14, a coin pay-out 3,114,446 Patented Dec. 17, 1963 2 mechanism indicated generally by the reference number 16 and a combined totalizer computer indicated generally by the reference number 18.

The coin accepting mechanism 14 may be conventional and is preferably the kind which separates coins into their denominations. Such coin accepting mechanisms are usually provided with electric switches positioned in the path of the coins to indicate the denomination of the coins inserted therein. In this particular embodiment the coin accepting mechanism accepts only quarter-s, dimes and nickels, so that only three coin switches 20, 22 and 24 are needed (see FIGS. 2 and 14). It is understood, however, that the principles of this invention apply to coin accepting mechanisms which accept coins of any denomination.

The dimes and quarters inserted in the coin accepting mechanism 14 follow their individual paths to separate receptacles (not shown) in a manner well known in the art, but in this particular embodiment the nickels inserted in the coin accepting mechanism move first into a nickel storage tube because change is returned in the form of nickels in this particular embodiment. If the nickel storage tube is completely full then the nickels are defiected into a standard nickel receptacle (not shown) in a manner well known in the art.

The coin pay-out mechanism 16 is conventional and includes a housing 28 in which the nickel storage tube 25 is mounted. A conventional electric solenoid 30 including a core or actuating rod 32 is also mounted in this housing (see FIG. 2). The actuating rod 32 is connected to slide plate 34 through linkage bars 36 and 38 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The lower end 40 of tube 26 is open and the slide plate 34 is slidably mounted beneath it. The slide plate is provided with an opening 42 and the thickness of the slide plate and the size of the opening 42 is such as to permit only one nickel (in this particular embodiment) to fall through the lower end of tube 40 and into opening 42. where it rests on the inner surface of the base 44 of the housing 28 (see FIG. 4). The base 44 of the housing is provided with an outlet opening 46 sized to freely permit a nickel to pass therethrough and fall into an outlet chute (not shown) for return to the purchaser. V In operation it can be seen that when solenoid 39 is energized it draws the actuating rod 32 into its core which causes slide plate 34 to move to the left as seen in FIG. 3. This movement causes any nickel resting on the inner surface of base 44 and in opening 42 of the slide plate to be pushed along until it falls out of the opening 46 in the base 44.

A coil spring 43 is connected to housing 28 and link member 36 to return the slide plate 34 to its initial position when coil 3% is de-energized. When this happens the bottom nickel in tube 26 can fall to the inner surface of base 44 in opening 42 of the slide plate 34 in position to be ejected when solenoid 30 is again actuated. An empty switch 5% (see FIG. 14) is mounted in operative association with the coin tube 26 by any conventional means (not shown) and is designed to close when the level of nickels in the coin tube 26 falls below a predetermined amount. The closing of switch 50 operates a light (not shown) which indicates that the purchaser must insert the correct change in the coin accepting mechanism 14.

As described to this point, the change making mechanism in this embodiment returns change in increments of five cents, but the principles of this invention can be easily applied to return change in coins of any denomination.

The mechanism for, determining the change that is to be returned and which controls the operation of solenoid 30 is included in the combined totalizer computer 18 and the control circuit 52 (see FIG. 14).

The combined totalizer computer 18, shown best in FIG. 5, includes a support 19 with a conventional accumulator mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 54, mounted thereon (see FIG. 13). In this particular embodiment, the accumulator mechanism 54 includes three actuating solenoids 56, 58 and 60 which are controlled by the coin switches 20, 22 and 24 and are energized when these switches are closed (see FIG. 14). These actuating solenoids are provided with push rods 57, 59 and 61, which in a manner well known in the art drive the mechanism which causes a rotary support or shaft 62 to rotate through an angle which is proportional to the value of the coins inserted in the coin accepting mechanism 14. A plural arm rotary switch 64 formed of a good metallic conductor is mounted on support 62 by any conventional means. As seen in FIG. 8, this rotary switch includes a single contact arm 66 and in this particular embodiment five oppositely extending substantially parallel contact arms 68, 70, 72, 74, and 76.

A board 78 formed of an electrically non-conducting material is mounted on support 19 by means of spacer connectors 80. As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, printed circuits indicated generally by the reference numerals 82 and 84 are printed on the opposite surfaces of the board 78 for reasons to be described below. The plural arm switch 64 is mounted in operative association with printed circuit 82 (see FIG. 11).

An electric motor 86 is connected to board 78 by means of support 88 and spacer connectors 90 (see FIGS. and 12). This motor is connected to a second rotary support or shaft 92 by any conventional means (see FIG. 6), and as described below, rotates this rotary support in a direction opposite to the direction shaft 62 is rotated by the accumulator mechanism 54. A second plural arm rotary switch 94 also formed of a good metallic conductor and including opposed arms 96 and 98 is mounted on support 92 in operative association with printed circuit 84.

The axes of the rotary supports or shafts 62 and 92 are co-linear and are preferably formed of some moldable electrically non-conductive material. As seen in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the support 62 is provided with an integral finger 100 which is radially spaced from and parallel to its rotational axis. Similarly, support 92 is provided with an integral finger 102 which is radially spaced from and parallel to the axis of rotary support 92. Finger 102 extends through an opening in the rotary switch 94 and into abutting engagement with finger 100 (see FIGS. 5, 7 and 8). This arrangement defines \a one way clutch 105.

The accumulator mechanism 54 is designed to rotate the rotary support 62 in the clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 8. For reasons to be described below, it is desirable for rotary support 92 to rotate so fingers 100 and 102 stay in abutting engagement when rotary support shaft 62 and its rotary switch 64 are rotated in this direction. To provide this movement, clutch 105 includes a coil spring 104 which is secured at one end to support 62 and at the other end to finger 1.02, while its intermediate portion embraces the reduced forward end portion 106 of support 62 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). In this way, as rotary support 62 is driven by the accumulator mechanism, coil spring 104 will bias support 92 so that finger 102 follows finger 100 and stays in abutting engagement therewith. This causes the rotary supports or shafts 62 and 92 to rotate together in this one direction through an angle proportional to the value of the money inserted in the coin accepting mechanism 14. It is also noted that with this arrangement after the accumulator mechanism has stopped operating, the rotary support 62 and plural arm switch 64 will be held stationary. Then if the electric motor 86 is energized it will overcome the bias exerted by coil spring 104 and will rotate the rotary support 92 so that finger 102 is moved away from finger 100 for reasons to be described below.

As stated above, the plural arm switch 64 is associated with printed circuit 82 which forms part of the totalizer circuit on one side of board 78 while plural arm switch 94 is associated with printed circuit 84 associated with the computer or vend impulse and changer part of the control circuit on the other side of the board.

The board is provided with an opening 79 through which the rotary support or shaft 62 extends. The printed circuit 82 includes a first group of separate contacts 108 in uniformly spaced angular relation along the periphery of a circle which is coaxial with the axis of rotary suppont 62 and the plural arm switch 64 (see FIG. 11). The maximum angular separation of these contacts may be determined by the smallest increment which the totalizer will respond to (in this embodiment five cents) and the maximum amount of money the totalizer can total (in this case $1.50); hence, thirty contacts in group 108 are needed. In addition to this first group of contacts 108, a common circular contact 110 is formed on this surface of board 78 in inwardly radially spaced relation to this contact group.

The plural arm switch 64 is mounted on rotataing support 62 so that arm 66 continuously rides on the circular common contact 110 while the five spaced fingers 68, 70, 72, 74 and 76 are adapted to engage one each of a sequential series of contacts 108, when the support 62 is rotated by the accumulator mechanism 54 (see FIGS. 5 and 14).

The contacts 108 are positioned on board 78 so that each contact corresponds to a particular price, and the plural arm switch 64 is mounted so that operation of the accumulator mechanism causes end arm 68 of the plural arm switch 64 to move so it engages the contact 108 which corresponds to the amount of money which has been inserted in the coin accepting mechanism 14. At the same time, the remaining arms 70, 72, 74 and 76 can engage in consecutive order contacts corresponding to lower prices. Although plural arm switch 64, in this particular embodiment, is provided with five spaced parallel fingers, it is to be understood and will become apparent below that the plural arm switch 64 could have a greater or lesser number of fingers.

The printed circuit 84 on the opposite side of board 78 (see FIG. 10) includes a second group of contacts 112 disposed on the periphery of a circle in uniformly spaced angular relation. This circle is concentric with the axis of rotary support 92 and in this particular embodiment the radius of the circle on which contacts 112 are mounted is equal to the radius of the circle on which contacts 108 are mounted, although this is not a necessary limitation.

A third group of contacts 114 are positioned on the periphery of a circle in uniformly spaced angular relation to each other. In addition each contact in this group is positioned intermediate adjacent contacts in group 112 in spaced relation thereto. The printed circuit 84 also includes a second circular common contact 116 in radially inwardly spaced relation to contacts 112 and 114. In addition, printed circuit 84 also includes a third generally circular common contact 118 concentric with the axis of support 92 and radially intermediate common contact 116 and contact groups 112 and 114. The contacts in group 114 are all connected to this third common contact 118, as seen in FIG. 10.

The contacts in group 112 are positioned so that each contact corresponds to a particular price and plural arm switch 94 is mounted so that operation of the accumulator mechanism causes arm 98 of switch 94 to engage a particular contact in group 112 only when the corresponding amount of money has been inserted in the coin accepting mechanism 14. This can be seen in FIG. 14 where, in response to the insertion of cents in the coin accepting mechanism 14, the accumulator mechanism 54 has rotated supports 62 and 92 along with plural arm switches 64 and 94 so arm 68 of plural arm switch 64 engages a contact 103 corresponding to a price of 75 cents, while arm 98 of plural arm switch 94 engages a contact 112 which also corresponds to a price of 75 cents. It is also noted that when arm 68 engages a contact 108 corresponding to a price of 75 cents, arm 70, 72, 74 and 76 of plural arm switch 64 are in engagement with contacts 108 corresponding to prices of 70 cents, 65 cents, 60 cents, and 55 cents, for reason to be described below.

In operation, the rotation of plural arm switch 64 provides an electrical connection between the common contact 110 and each of the contacts 108 engaged by one of the arms of switch 64 so that the contacts in group 108 will be connected to a source of electric power only when engaged by the arms of switch 64. Similarly, the rotation of plural arm switch 94 with arm 96 riding on common contact 116 and arm 98 sequentially engaging contacts in groups 112 and 114 causes the contacts in these groups to be connected to a source of electric power only when engaged by arm 98. As the motor drives the plural arm switch 94 in stepwise return direction, the arm 98, in stepping from one contact 112 to the next preceding, will thereinbetween make contact with a contact 114 to effect the discharge of five cents from the nickel payout. In this particular embodiment plural arm switch 94 has only two arms so that contacts 114 are mounted on the periphery of the same circle that contacts 112 are mounted on, but by providing an additional arm of diiTerent length for the plural arm rotary switch 94, the contacts in group 114 could be mounted on a circle of a different radius.

It is further noted that pairs of stacking connectors 120 are mounted on the surface of board 78 with the printed circuit 84. Each pair of stacking connectors corresponds to a particular price and hence to a possible price for merchandise being sold in the bank of vending machines 12. One stacking connector in each pair is connected to a contact in group 1% representing its corresponding price while the other contact in each pair is connected to a contact in group 112 representing the same price.

One or more vending machines are adapted to be connected to each pair of stacking connectors and it is apparent that this arrangement offers a simple convenient way of controlling the prices charged by any number of vending machines connected to this change making device. In addition, it offers a simple procedure for changing prices. All that is necessary is to disconnect the terminals of the vending machine whose price is to be changed from one pair of stacking connectors and connect them to another pair which correspond to the new price.

The control circuit 52 for the change making mechanism includes, as shown in FIG. 14, a power line 124 and a return line 126 which are connected to a source of electric power 128. One branch of power line 124 is connected through the closed terminals 130 of a solenoid operated interrupter switch 132 to one side of the coil of a coin blocking relay 134. The other side of the coil of the coin blocking relay is connected to the return line 126 so that as long as terminals 130 are closed, the coin blocking relay 134 will be energized. The core 136 of the coin blocking relay is connected to a blocking arm 138 which, when the coin blocking relay is not energized, is biased by any conventional means into the path of coins inserted in the coin accepting mechanism 14 so that no additional coins will be accepted. One side of the solenoid interrupter switch 132 is connected to the return wire 126 while the other side is connected by means of a wire 133 to the contact in group 108 which corresponds to the highest price charged for any article sold in the bank of vending machines (in this embodiment 75 cents). As will become apparent below, this contact in group 108 will be energized only when a sum of money equal to or slightly greater than this maximum price is inserted in the coin accepting mechanism. This will cause contacts 136 to open which will de-energize the coil of the coin blocking relay 134 and will cause arm 138 to move to a blocking position where it prevents the acceptance of any additional coins. This feature is important because it prevents the mechanism from being used strictly as a coin changer.

A manually controlled by-pass switch 140 (see FIGS. 1 and 14) is connected to one side of the coil of solenoid 3t) and, as seen, by-passes the control circuit 52 and permits the solenoid 30 to be operated independently of the control circuit so that the coin tube 26 may be cleared of coins for purposes of repair and adjustment. In actual use, access to this switch is limited to the service man.

When coins are inserted in the coin accepting mechanism 14, they cause switch 24 to close momentarily if the inserted coin is a nickel. Similarly, switches 22 or 20' close momentarily if the inserted coin is a dime or quarter.

When these switches close they momentarily energize solenoids 56, 58 and 66, which they control and which form part of the accumulator mechanism 54. These solenoids, in a manner well known in the art, cause the rotary supports 62 and 92 and the plural arm rotary contact switches 64 and 94 to rotate together in one direction through an angle proportional to the value of the money inserted in the coin acceptance mechanism 14.

Line 124 is connected to terminal 142 where it divides into two branches. Branch 144 passes through the closed terminals of a switch 146 which is controlled by the reset solenoid 148 of the accumulator mechanism and continues on to the center movable terminal 151] of the single pole double throw cancelling relay switch 152. When solenoid 154 of this cancelling relay switch 152 is not energized, terminal 156 is in engagement with terminal 156, and when solenoid 154 is energized, terminal 151) moves into engagement with terminal 158.

As will become apparent below, solenoid 154 is not energized initially so that terminals and 156 engage each other. Line 161 is connected between terminal 156 and terminal 157 which is connected to the common contact 116 on printed circuit 82 so that a source of power is connected to the common contact 110 as long as solenoid 154 of the cancelling relay 152 is not energized.

To better understand the operation of the control circuit from this point on, assume a certain sum of money, e.g. 75 cents, has been inserted in the coin acceptance mechanism 14. When this happens, the accumulator mechanism 54 will rotate plural arm rotary contact switches 64 and 94 to the position shown in FIG. 14. An examination of printed circuit 82 shows that contacts 108 corresponding to a price of 55 cents and 70 cents are connected to one terminal of selector switches 161i and 162 which are mounted on the vending machines which sell their merchandise for 55 cents and 70 cents, respectively (see FIG. 1).

Now assume that a purchaser has selected an article from one of the vending machines which sells its products for 55 cents and that the purchaser has momentarily closed selector switch 160. It is apparent that the source of power connected to the common circular contact 119 is also connected to each of the contacts 113% engaged by arms 68, 7th, 72, '74 and 76. Consequently the same source of power is connected to one terminal of selector switch and when this switch is momentarily closed, power can flow through line 164'to one side of coil 166 of the four terminal relay switch 168. The opposite side of coil 166 is connected back to the return line 126 through wires 170, so that when selector switch 166 is momentarily closed, the relay switch 168 is energized. It is apparent that if the 70 cent article had been selected and selector switch 162 momentarily closed, then the four terminal relay switch 172 would have been energized.

Each vending machine in bank 12 is provided with its own four terminal relay switch and each of the four terminal relay switches include spaced terminal pairs 174, 176, 1'78 and 180. The terminal pairs are normally open but when the coil of their relay switch is energized they all close. In this case, because coil 166 is energized, terminal pairs 174, 176, 178 and 188 associated with the four terminal relay switch 168 are closed.

When terminal pairs 174 close, power from line 164 is connected to terminal 158 of the cancelling relay switch 152 through line 182. At the same time, power from line 182 enters branch 184 and passing through the closed terminals 178 is connected to power line 186.

Power line 186 divides into branches 188, 190 and 192, for energizing solenoid 154 of the cancelling relay, for connecting the common circular contact 116 of printed circuit 84 to a source of power, and for energizing motor 86.

When the solenoid 154 in the cancelling relay 152 is energized, it causes terminal 150 to engage terminal 158, thereby disconnecting common contact 118 of printed circuit 82 from a source of power. At the same time power from line 14 1 now flowing through wire 182 passes through terminals 174 to line 164 to by-pass selector switch 160 and act as a holding circuit to keep the four terminal relay switch 168 energized after selector switch 160 opens.

As the motor operates it drives the plural arm terminal switch 94- in the counter-clockwise or retrograde direction, as seen in FIG. 14. In the meantime, the plural arm terminal switch 64 remains stationary. Since power is supplied to the circular common contact 116, the rotary arm switch in its retrograde movement sequentially connects contacts in groups 112 and 114 to this source of power.

When arm 98 of this plural arm switch engages any one of the contacts in group 114, power can flow to their common circular contact 118 and on through wire 194 to one side of the coil 196 of the nickel pay-out relay switch 198. This energizes the coil and causes terminals 200 to close, thereby connecting a source of power from line 124 through branch 281 to line 2112 leading back to solenoid 30. This energizes solenoid 3t and causes a ickel to be ejected as described above. Thus, it is seen that each engagement between arm 88 with a contact in group 114 causes solenoid 38 to be actuated and a nickel is returned for each engagement.

As arm 98 of the plural arm switch 94 is driven in the retrograde direction by motor 86, it soon engages the contact 112 corresponding to a price of 70 cents and connects that contact to a source of electric power. A wire 204 is connected to this contact and to one terminal of terminal pairs 176 in the four terminal relay switch 172. Since that relay switch was not energized by pressing selector switch 162, as described above, terminals 176 will be open, so that nothing will happen by this engagement. As arm 98 continues its movement, it then engages contacts 112 corresponding to prices of 65 cents and 60 cents, but since in this particular embodiment no vending machines are connected to them, nothing happens by these engagements.

Finally, arm 98 engages the contact 112 corresponding to the price of 55 cents. In this case an article was selected by the purchaser which sells for 55 cents and the selector switch 160 had been pressed. As described above, this causes the four terminal relay switch 168 to be energized so terminal pairs 174, 176, 178, and 180 are closed.

Consequently, the engagement of arm 98 with contact 112 corresponding to a price of 55 cents connects a source of power to wire 2% leading to the closed terminals 176 and 180 in the energized four terminal relay switch 168. This source of power passes through closed terminals 176 and enters wire 208 leading to the vending machine controlled by the selector button 168 and provides the vend impulse necessary for the vending machine to operate and dispense the selected product.

The source of power passing through the closed terminals 180 enters Wire 2111 which leads to one side of the coil of the reset solenoid 14-8 of the accumulator mechanism. The other side of the coil of solenoid 14-8 is connected to wires 170 which complete the circuit through the coil of solenoid 148 thereby energizing it. When this happens, reset solenoid 148 operates to return the rotary supports 62 and 92 and their plural arm rotary switches 64- and 94 back to their initial or zero position in a manner well known in the art. At the same time, operation of the reset solenoid 148 opens contacts 146. This cuts 011 all power to the printed circuit boards and to the four terminal relay switch 168, so that contacts 146 again close and the control circuit 52 is prepared for the next purchase.

Returning to the description of the operation of the change making mechanism, it will be recalled that it was assumed that 75 cents was inserted in the coin accepting mechanism 14- so that arm 98 came to rest on the contact 112 corresponding to that price. Since a cent article was purchased, the change making mechanism must return 20 cents. As described above, each time arm 98 engages a contact 114 a nickel is returned and as seen in FIGS. 10 and 14, there are four contacts in group 114 between the contacts in group 112 corresponding to 75 cents, the amount of money inserted in the coin accepting mechanism 14, and 55 cents, the price of the article selected for purchase. Consequently, by the time arm 98 driven by motor 86 has reached the contact 112 corresponding to 55 cents, four nickels or the required 20 cents have been returned. The engagement of arm 98 with the contact 112 corresponding to 55 cents, as described above, cuts off power to printed circuit 84 and to motor 86, so that when solenoid 148 returns the plural arm rotary switch 94 back to its initial or zero position, any further engagements between arm 98 and contacts 114 will have no effect.

If a 70 cent article had been selected under these conditions, the engagement of arm 98 with the contact 112 corresponding to a price of 70 cents would provide the vend impulse and operate the reset mechanism exactly as described above. In this case, however, power to the printed circuit 84 would be cut off when the arm 8% reached the contact 112 corresponding to a price of 70 cents. Since there is only one contact in group 114 between contacts 112 corresponding to 75 cents and 70 cents, only one nickel would be returned, as expected.

The importance of the number of arms in the plural arm switch 64 is now apparent. With five arms adapted to engage contacts in group 168, vending machines selling their products for five different prices differing in increments of 5 cents can be operated when a sum of money equal to or greater than 25 cents is inserted in the coin accepting mechanism. In the example described above, when 75 cents is inserted in the coin accepting mechanism the purchaser has a theoretical choice of products in vending machines selling for 55 cents, cents, 65 cents, cents, and cents. Furthermore, since arm 98 of the plural arm switch 94 engages the contact 112 corresponding to the amount of money inserted in the coin accepting mechanism, the operation of the motor will cause arm 98 to move and return change until arm 98 engages the contact 112 corresponding to the price of the article selected, and the number of engagements between arm 98 and contacts 114 will be equal to the number of contacts in group 112 which arm 98 will engage as it moves from its position corresponding to the amount of money inserted in the coin accepting mechanism until it reaches the contact corresponding to the price of the article selected. Thus operation of the totalizer computer 18 and the change making mechanism is independent of the price of the articles sold by the various vending machines connected to it.

In this particular embodiment, a maximum of four nickels can be returned or four actuations of solenoid 30 are possible, but it is apparent that by simply increasing or decreasing the number of parallel arms in the plural arm switch 64, a larger or smaller number of nickels can be returned or a greater or lesser number of actuations of solenoid 30 are possible. Consequently, the principles of this change making device can be used to return change in any denomination and in any amount.

The invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof as set forth in the claims and the present embodiments is therefore to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive, and it is intended to include all changes which come within the scope and range of the claims.

I claim:

1. A change making mechanism of the class described comprising in combination a coin accepting mechanism, a coin payout mechanism, a totalizer, a computer, and a control circuit, said totalizer connected to said coin accepting mechanism so that it responds in proportion to the value of the coinage inserted in the coin accepting mechanism, a group of contacts connected to the totalizer, at least certain of said contacts corresponding to particular prices and connected to a source of power only when coinage at least equal in value to its price is inserted in the coin accepting mechanism, certain of said contacts adapted to be connected to vending machines through said control circuit whereby when a particular con-tact is connected to a source of power any vending machine connected there-to can be operated to vend its product, said computer connected to said totalizer so that it initially responds in proportion to the value of the coinage inserted in thecoin accepting mechanism, a plurality of contacts connected to said computer, at least certain of said computer contacts corresponding to particular prices and connected to a source of power through said control circuit only when one of said vending machines which vends a product for less than the value of the coinage inserted in the coin accepting mechanism is operated, first means connected to said control circuit and to said computer for causing said computer to respond to the difference between the value of the coinage inserted in the coin accepting mechanism and the price of said product in the operated vending machine, second means connected to said computer and to said coin payout mechanism and operable when the computer responds to the difference between the value of the coinage inserted in the coin accepting mechanism and the price of said product in the operated vending machine to cause said coin payout mechanism to dispense coinage in the value of this difference.

2. The change making mechanism set forth in claim 1 including means controlled by said totalizer for preventing the coin accepting mechanism from accepting additional coins when coins greater in value than the greatest price of the articles sold by the venting machines are inserted therein.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said total-izer includes a fixed support and a first movable element, said first movable element mounted for movement with respect to said support, said group of contacts mounted on said support in spaced relation to each other, a plural arm switch on said first movable element, at least some of the arms of the plural arm switch positioned to engage said group of contacts when the first movable element moves with respect to said support and with the contacts engaged by said arms all in consecutive order, said plural arm switch positioned so that one arm engages the contact in said group corresponding to the value of the money inserted in the coin receiving mechanism while other arms can engage in consecutive order contacts corresponding to lower prices, and said computer includesa second movable element, said second movable element mounted for movement with respect to said support, said computer contacts mounted in fixed relation to said support, a second switch on said second movable element, said second switch including arm means for engaging said computer contacts, at least some of said computer contacts associated with contacts in said group and adapted to be connected to the same vending machines, said computer contacts connected to a source of power only when engaged by the arm means of said sec- 1t) ond switch, at least some of said computer contacts connected to the coin payout mechanism and in operation causing at least one coin to be paid out for certain engagements by said arm means, first moving means connected to said first and second movable element so they move together in one direction by an amount proportional to the valve of the coins inserted in the coin accepting mechanism, second moving means connected to said second movable element for moving it in a direction opposite to said one direction to cause the arm means in said switch to sequentially engage said computer contacts to cause coins to be paid out, and reset means for resetting the entire mechanism for the next purchase, said reset means connected to said first moving means and actuated when the arm means of said switch engages the particular contact in said computer contacts which is connected to the vending machine which sells the product selected by the purchaser.

4. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said totalizer includes a fixed support and a first movable element, said first movable element mounted for movement with respect to said support, said group of contacts mounted on said support in spaced relation to each other, a plural arm switch on said first movable element, at least some of the arms of the plural arm switch positioned to engage said group of contacts when the first movable element moves with respect to said support and with the contacts engaged by said arms all in consecutive order, said plural arm switch positioned so that one arm engages the contact in said group corresponding to the value of the money inserted in the coin receiving mechanism while other arms engage in consecutive order any contacts corresponding to lower prices, and said computer includes a second movable element, said second movable element mounted for movement with respect to said support, said computer contacts including second and third groups of contacts which are mounted in fixed relation to said support, a second switch on said second movable element, said second switch including arm means for engaging contacts in said second and third groups, each contact in said second group associated with a contact in said totalizer group and adapted to be connected to the same vending machines, the contacts in said second and third groups connected to a source of power only when engaged by the arm means of said second switch, said third group of contacts connected to the coin payout mechanism and in operation causing at least one coin to be paid out for certain engagements by said arm means, first moving means connected to said first and second movable elements so they move together in one direction by an amount proportional to the value of the coins inserted in the coin accepting mechanism, second moving means connected to said second movable element for moving it in a direction opposite to said one direction to cause the arm means in said switch to sequentially engage contacts in said second and third groups to cause coins to be paid out, and reset means for resetting the entire mechanism for the next purchase, said reset means connected to said first moving means and actuated when the arm means of said switch engages the particular contact in said second group of contacts connected to the vending machine which sells the product selected by the purchaser.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said totalizer includes a first support and a first surface, said first support movable with respect to said first surface in spaced relation to each other, a plural arm switch mounted on said first support, at least some of the arms of said plural arm switch positioned to engage said group of contacts when said first support moves with respect to said first surface with the contacts engaged by said arms in consecutive order, said plural arm switch positioned so that one arm engages the contact corresponding in price to the value of the money inserted in the coin receiving mechanism while other arms can engage in consecutive order contacts corresponding to lower prices, and said computer includes a second support and a second surface, said second support movable with respect to said second surface, said computer contacts including second and third groups of contacts which are mounted on said second surface, a second switch mounted on said second support, said second switch including arm means for engaging contacts in said second and third groups, each contact in said second group of contacts associated with a contact in said totalizer group and adapted to be connected to the same vending machines, the contacts in said second and third groups connected to a source of power only when engaged by the arm means of said second switch, said third group of contacts connected to said coin payout mechanism and in operation causing at least one coin to be paid out for certain engagements by said arm means, first moving means connected to said first and second supports so they move together in one direction by an amount proportional to the value of the coins inserted in the coin accepting mechanism, second moving means connected to said second support for moving it in a direction opposite to said one direction when said first support is held in a fixed position to cause the arm means on said second switch to sequentially engage contacts in said second and third groups to cause coins to be paid out, and reset means for resetting the entire mechanism for the next purchase, said reset means connected to said first moving means and actuated when the arm means of said switch engages the particular contact in said second group connected to the vending machine which sells the article selected by the purchaser.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said totalizer includes a first shaft and a first surface, said rst shaft associated with said first surface, said group of contacts mounted on said first surface in uniformly spaced angular relation around the axis of said first shaft, a common contact on said one surface in radially spaced relation to said group of contacts, a first plural arm switch mounted on said first shaft and rotatable therewith, one arm of said switch engaging said common contact, the other arms of said switch positioned so each is adapted to engage a contact in said group with the contacts engaged by the arms all in consecutive order, said first plural arm switch positioned so that one arm engages the contact corresponding in price to the value of the money inserted in the coin accepting mechanism while the remaining arms engage in consecutive order any contacts corresponding to price lower in value, and said computer includes a second shaft, a second surface, said second shaft associated with said second surface, said computer contacts including a second group of contacts which are mounted on said second surface in uniformly spaced relation around the axis of said second shaft, a second common contact in radially spaced relation to said second group of contacts, a third group of contacts mounted on said second surface, a second plural arm switch mounted on said second shaft, one arm of said second plural arm switch engaging said second common contact, and arm means on said second plural arm switch adapted to sequentially engage contacts in said second and third groups, said second group of contacts associated with the same vending machines said totalizer group of contacts are associated with, the contacts in said second group connected to a source of electric power only when engaged by the arm means of said second plural arm switch, said third group of contacts connected to said coin payout mechanism, first rotating means connected to said shafts so they rotate together in one direction through an angle proportional to the value of the coins inserted in the coin accepting mechanism, second rotating means associated with said second shaft and connected to said second plural arm switch for rotating said second plural arm switch in a direction opposite to said one direction of said shafts to cause said second plural arm switch to sequentially energize contacts in said second and third groups of contacts to cause coins to be paid out of the coin payout mechanism for each engagement between said second 12 plural arm switch and a contact in said third group, and reset means for resetting the entire mechanism for the next pu'chase, said reset means actuated when said second plural arm switch engages the contact in said second group connected to the vending machine which sells the article selected by the purchaser.

7. A totalizer computer for a change making mechanism used with vending machines comprising a support, an accumulator mechanism mounted on said support, said accumulator mechanism connected to a first shaft for rotating it, a first rotary switch mounted on said first shaft and rotatable therewith, a first surface formed from sheet material mounted on said support, a first circuit mounted on said first surface of the sheet material and in operative association with first rotary switch means, a second surface formed from sheet material mounted on said support, a second circuit mounted on said second surface, an electric motor mounted on said support and driving a second shaft, a second rotary switch mounted on said second shaft and in operative association with said second circuit, and clutch means connecting said first and second shafts together only when they are rotated in one direction so that said accumulator mechanism can drive said first and second shafts together in said one direction, said electric motor driving said second shaft in a direction opposite to said one direction whereby when said second shaft is rotated by said electric motor said first shaft can remain stationary.

8. A totalizer computer for a change making mechanism used with vending machines comprising a support, an accumulator mechanism mounted on said support, said accumulator mechanism connected to a first shaft for rotating it, a first rotary switch mounted on said first shaft and rotatable therewith, a piece of sheet material having opposed parallel surfaces mounted on said support, printed circuits formed on each of said surfaces, said first rotary switch in operative association with one of said printed circuits, an electric motor mounted on said support and driving a second shaft, a second rotary switch mounted on said second shaft and in operative association with the other of said printed circuits, and clutch means connecting said first and second shafts together so they rotate together only when they are in one direction so that the accumulator mechanism can drive said first and second shafts in said one direction, said electric motor driving said second shaft in a direction opposite to said one direction whereby when said second shaft is rotated by said electric motor said first shaft can remain stationary.

9. A totalizer computer for a change making mechanism used with vending machines comprising a fixed support, a first movable element movably mounted on said support, first moving means mounted on said support and connected to said first movable element for moving it on said support, one group of contacts in fixed relation to said support and in spaced relation to each other, each contact corresponding to the magnitude of the movement of said first movable element and adapted to be connected to at least one vending machine, a plural arm switch mounted on said first movable element, at least some of the arms of the plural arm switch positioned to engage said one group of contacts when the first movable element moves with respect to said support and with the contacts engaged by said arms all in consecutive order, said plural arm switch positioned so that one arm engages the contact in said one group corresponding to the magnit-ude of the movement of said first movable element, while the other arms can engageg in consecutive order contacts corresponding to magnitudes of lesser movements, a second movable element, said second movable element mounted for movement with respect to said support, additional contacts mounted in fixed relation to said support, a switch on said second movable element, said switch including arm means for engaging said additional contacts, at least some of said additional contacts assor 13 ciated with contacts in said one group and adapted to be connected to the same vending machines, said additional contact-s adapted to be connected to a source of power only when engaged by the arm means of said switch, at least some of said additional contacts adapted to be connected to a coin payout mechanism to cause at least one coin to be paid out for each engagement by said arm means, said first moving means connected to said first and second movable elements in such a way that they move together in one direction by an amount equal to the move ment of said first movable element, second moving means connected to said second movable element for moving only said second movable element in a direction opposite to said one direction to cause the arm means in said switch to sequentially engage said additional contacts, and reset means for resetting the totalizer computer for the next pr chase after an article has been sold by a vending machine, said reset means connected to said first moving means and actuated when the arm means of said switch engages the particular contact of said additional contacts which is connected to the vending machine selling the article selected by the purchaser.

10. A totalizer computer for a change making mechanism used with vending machines comprising a fixed support, a first movable element movably mounted on said support, a first moving means mounted on said support and connected to said first movable element for moving it on said support, one group of contacts in fixed relation to said support and in spaced relation to each other, each contact corresponding to the magnitude of the movement of said first movable element and adapted to be connected to at least one vending machine, a plural arm switch mounted on said first movable element, at least some of the arms of the plural arm switch positioned to engage said one group of contacts when the first movable element moves with respect to said support and with the contacts engaged by said arms all in consecutive order, said plunal arm switch positioned so that one arm engages the contact in said one group corresponding to the magnitude of the movement of said first movable element while the other arms can engage in consecutive order contacts corresponding to magnitudes of lesser movements, at second movable element, said second movable element mounted for movement with respect to said support, secend and tlnrd groups of contacts mounted in fixed relation to said support, a switch on said second movable element, said switch including arm means for engaging contacts in said second and third groups, each contact in said second group associated with a contact in said one group and adapted to be connected to the same vending machines, the contacts in said second and third groups adapted to be connected to a source of power when engaged by the arm means of said switch, said third group of contacts adapted to be connected to the coin payout mechanism and in operation causing at least one coin to be paid out for each engagement by said arm means, said first moving means connected to said first and second movable elements in such a way that they move together in one direction by an amount equal to the movement of said first movable element, second moving means connected to said second movable element for moving only said second movable element in a direction opposite to said one direction to cause the arm means in said switch to sequentially engage contacts in said second and third groups, and reset means for resetting the totalizer com puter for the next purchase after an article has been sold by a vending machine, said reset means connected to said first moving means and actuated when the arm means of said switch engages the particular contact in said second group of contacts which is connected to the vending machine selling the article selected by the purchaser.

11. A totalizer computer for a change making mechanism used with vending machines comprising a fixed support, a piece of sheet material with substantially planar opposed surfaces mounted on said support, an accumu- 14 l'ator mechanism mounted on said support and connected to a first shaft for rotating it, the axis of said first shaft substantially perpendicular to the planar surfaces of said sheet material, one group of contacts mounted on one surface of said sheet material in uniformly spaced angular relation around the axis of said first shaft, each contact corresponding to the magnitude of the movement of the first shaft and adapted to be connected to a vending machine, a common contact on said one surface in uniformly spaced relation to said one group of contacts, a plural arm switch mounted on said first shaft and rotatable therewith, one arm of said plural arm switch engaging said common contact with each of the other arms of said first plural arm switch adapted to engage a contact in said one group and with the contacts engaged by said arms in consecutive order, said first plural arm switch positioned so that one arm engages the contact in said one group corresponding to the magnitude of the angular movement of said first shaft while the other arms engage in consecutive order contacts corresponding to magnitudes of lesser movements, an electric motor mounted on said support and driving a second shaft, said first and second shafts co linear, a second and third group of contacts mounted on the opposite surface of said sheet material in uniformly spaced angular relation around the axis of said second shaft, a second common contact on said opposite surfiace in radially spaced relation to said second and third groups of contacts, a second plural arm switch mounted on said second shaft, one arm of said second plural arm switch engaging said second common contact, and arm means on said second plural arm switch adapted to sequentially engage contacts in said second and third groups of contacts, each contact in said second group of contacts associated with a contact in said first group of contacts and adapted to be connected to the same vending machines, the contacts in said second and third groups adapted to be connected to a source of electric power when engaged by the arm means of said second plural arm switch, said third group of contacts adapted to be connected to a coin payout mechanism" which in operation causes at least one coin to be paid out for each engagement by said arm means, said accumulator mechanism connected to said first and second shafts in such a way that they rotate together in one direction through an angle equal to the magnitude of the movement of said first shaft, an electric motor connected to said second shaft for rotating only said second shaft and said second plural arm switch in a direction opposite to said one direction of said first and second shafts to cause said second and third groups of contacts to cause coins to be paid out of said coin payout mechanism for each engagement between said arm means and a contact in said third group, and reset means for resetting the entire mechanism for the next purchase, said reset means actuated when said arm means engages the contact in said second group of contacts connected to the vending machine which sells the article selected by the purchaser.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,606,639 Dolman Aug. 12, 1952 2,616,994 Luhn- Nov. 4, 1952 2,627,963 iNelsen Feb. 10, 1953 2,649,947 Nelsen Aug. 25, 1953 2,659,471 Johnston Nov. 17, 1953 2,669,336 Hunsinger Feb. 16, 1954 2,752,580 Shewmaker June 26, 1956 2,800,988 Timms July 30, 1957 2,875,264 Gross Feb. 24, 1959 2,876,883 Baker Mar. 10, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 601,527 Great Britain May 7, 1948 

1. A CHANGE MAKING MECHANISM OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A COIN ACCEPTING MECHANISM, A COIN PAYOUT MECHANISM, A TOTALIZER, A COMPUTER, AND A CONTROL CIRCUIT, SAID TOTALIZER CONNECTED TO SAID COIN ACCEPTING MECHANISM SO THAT IT RESPONDS IN PROPORTION TO THE VALUE OF THE COINAGE INSERTED IN THE COIN ACCEPTING MECHANISM, A GROUP OF CONTACTS CONNECTED TO THE TOTALIZER, AT LEAST CERTAIN OF SAID CONTACTS CORRESPONDING TO PARTICULAR PRICES AND CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF POWER ONLY WHEN COINAGE AT LEAST EQUAL IN VALUE TO ITS PRICE IS INSERTED IN THE COIN ACCEPTING MECHANISM, CERTAIN OF SAID CONTACTS ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO VENDING MACHINES THROUGH SAID CONTROL CIRCUIT WHEREBY WHEN A PARTICULAR CONTACT IS CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF POWER ANY VENDING MACHINE CONNECTED THERETO CAN BE OPERATED TO VEND ITS PRODUCT, SAID COMPUTER CONNECTED TO SAID TOTALIZER SO THAT IT INITIALLY RESPONDS IN PROPORTION TO THE VALUE OF THE COINAGE INSERTED IN THE COIN ACCEPTING MECHANISM, A PLURALITY OF CONTACTS CONNECTED TO SAID COMPUTER, AT LEAST CERTAIN OF SAID COMPUTER CONTACTS CORRESPONDING TO PARTICULAR PRICES AND CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF POWER THROUGH SAID CONTROL CIRCUIT ONLY WHEN ONE OF SAID VENDING MACHINES WHICH VENDS A PRODUCT FOR LESS THAN THE VALUE OF THE COINAGE INSERTED IN THE COIN ACCEPTING MECHANISM IS OPERATED, FIRST MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CONTROL CIRCUIT AND TO SAID COMPUTER FOR CAUSING SAID COMPUTER TO RESPOND TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VALUE OF THE COINAGE INSERTED IN THE COIN ACCEPTING MECHANISM AND THE PRICE OF SAID PRODUCT IN THE OPERATED VENDING MACHINE, SECOND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID COMPUTER AND TO SAID COIN PAYOUT MECHANISM AND OPERABLE WHEN THE COMPUTER RESPONDS TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE VALUE OF THE COINAGE INSERTED IN THE COIN ACCEPTING MECHANISM AND THE PRICE OF SAID PRODUCT IN THE OPERATED VENDING MACHINE TO CAUSE SAID COIN PAYOUT MECHANISM TO DISPENSE COINAGE IN THE VALUE OF THIS DIFFERENCE. 